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Original poster

Furlough letter. Help!

45 replies

SongbirdsandLullabies · 28/11/2020 12:20

I work in social care - 14 hour shifts.
I have health issues which mean I cannot wear a mask for extended periods, I do wear one while shopping but that's only for around half an hour.
I was told to wear a visor at work as they were aware of my exemption.
Yesterday I went to work and was asked to call my GP and get a formal exemption letter or a furlough letter as the visor was not acceptable.
My Dr said they don't do these and sent me a print out of my issues, saying this was all I legally needed.
Management wouldn't accept this and sent me home saying they were "disappointed with my stance" that I chose to leave.
Apparently I'm now being reported to HR and safeguarding!
Please can somebody help me with where I stand or where to get an official exemption letter?
Thanks

OP posts:
Wankerchief · 28/11/2020 14:10

I think it's fair tbh.
Your in a job that really does require PPE.
My son has medical carers a few times a week and I wouldn't let one who isn't in PPE and a visor wouldn't cut it.

In order to sign you off for furlough all they want is proof as would any job.
If you really cannot on medical grounds then go back to the doctors

DougRossIsTheBoss · 28/11/2020 14:35

As a Dr I think I would be uncomfortable being asked to certify this.

There are no medical criteria to go on. I mean if having a diagnosis of asthma is enough then I'm happy to confirm that as that is a factual matter but I am not aware of any medical guidance about how bad asthma would have to be to mean you can't wear a mask and that's before you add the effect of anxiety and heart conditions.

I basically would just be certifying what you say ie that you feel you can't breath if you wear one presumably. I'd have to write a letter x has asthma and feels she can't breathe if she has a mask on. I can't say it will exacerbate the condition if I have no evidence that it would.

Asthma U.K. says 'most people with asthma can manage to wear a face mask' and 'there is no blanket exemption'

So how can a Dr be asked to certify something that really doesn't seem to be a clear medical fact?

You could say just write something to be helpful but if employers start this up then Drs will be inundated with these requests which is why the GP and the practice manager are holding the line on it.

DianaT1969 · 28/11/2020 14:35

Were you working through the first wave without a mask OP? It seems a minimum PPE requirement when working with vulnerable patients - not least to protect yourself!
If you are in a union, I think you should have explored moving to a non-contact role months ago. Even if no union, can you pursue this aggressively?

Poppystars · 28/11/2020 15:31

Can you ask your asthma consultant or heart consultant for a letter?

Original poster
SongbirdsandLullabies · 28/11/2020 16:57

We only had an email this week to say that masks are now mandatory.
On my shift on Thursday, I was told the visor was fine.
When I went for my shift on Friday I was told it was not and sent home.

OP posts:
TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 28/11/2020 17:10

@SongbirdsandLullabies

We only had an email this week to say that masks are now mandatory. On my shift on Thursday, I was told the visor was fine. When I went for my shift on Friday I was told it was not and sent home.
Frustrating that you're getting mixed messages but surely you know yourself that the visors are not fine? It's not been kept secret that they don't provide much, if any protection to you or those around you.
Oxyiz · 28/11/2020 17:11

Visors do nothing to protect people from airborne viruses, I have been baffled by people using them instead of masks. I'm sympathetic for your situation OP but its good that this is being clarified.

BungleandGeorge · 28/11/2020 17:15

GPs are not required to issue any paperwork for covid and as pointed out there’s no standard assessment so they may well feel that they can’t make the judgement. You might find a private GP to asses you, you could ring around and see if they will do it. Take the letter from your own GP with you. I’m not all together sure that your work can insist on it but it might be your easiest option

PrivateD00r · 28/11/2020 17:22

So you have not been wearing PPE until last week? That is absolutely shocking!

Original poster
SongbirdsandLullabies · 28/11/2020 17:26

@PrivateD00r

So you have not been wearing PPE until last week? That is absolutely shocking!
Yes I agree. However this was on the say so, and actions of management, who don't wear it either.
OP posts:
PrivateD00r · 28/11/2020 17:28

That's awful op, especially for you given you are vulnerable. I honestly don't know where you go from here, but honestly a visor is not an acceptable alternative for you.

Have you considered a pp's suggestion of looking at regular breaks, if you could tolerate the mask for a period of time?

As I asked before, who actually said you can't wear a mask? They are the professional to ask for a letter.

AldiAisleofCrap · 28/11/2020 17:32

Of course you need a mask to work face to face with vulnerable people. If your doctors medical opinion is you can’t wear a mask then you can get proof for furlough. If he doesn’t think you can’t wear a mask then you need to wear a mask or resign.

DianaT1969 · 28/11/2020 17:43

This really isn't what the public thinks is happening in care homes. I'm shocked that carers have been allowed close contact with vulnerable people without a mask.
In your case, you not only expose them to risk, but yourself too. Have you managed to dodge Covid so far?

lockeddownandcrazy · 28/11/2020 17:47

Asthmatics can wear masks - it has been proven they dont reduce oxygen, if you can wear for shopping then anxiety isnt really an excuse either. If the job requires PPE and you will not wear it then I can see why they are saying you cant do the job.

kittykat35 · 28/11/2020 17:49

That is shocking OP! I would just wear the mask.i have to wear the mask for my job! I had to even pre-Covid!! We have to wear them all day except when eating! I work in a company of over 700 employees...no one is exempt.AND we have our temp taken every morning at the door!!

A friend of mine is a nurse in a nursing home and they also wear them all day and have Covid tests every 2 weeks!! Why are they not doing this in the U.K.??

Viviennemary · 28/11/2020 17:53

I think you will either need to wear a mask or ask to be redeployed elsewhere away from patients.

BungleandGeorge · 28/11/2020 18:20

@kittykat35

That is shocking OP! I would just wear the mask.i have to wear the mask for my job! I had to even pre-Covid!! We have to wear them all day except when eating! I work in a company of over 700 employees...no one is exempt.AND we have our temp taken every morning at the door!!

A friend of mine is a nurse in a nursing home and they also wear them all day and have Covid tests every 2 weeks!! Why are they not doing this in the U.K.??

Does OP work in a care home? She said in social care in her post. Nursing home staff have weekly tests in the UK
kittykat35 · 28/11/2020 18:30

@BungleandGeorge your right she didn't but I saw @DianaT1969 comment and thought OP had said care home!!thank forgot that!! But even still I think @SongbirdsandLullabies needs to wear a mask!!

DianaT1969 · 28/11/2020 18:57

Ah sorry, I picked up that it was a home. We don't know if she works with vulnerable people then. Social care could be a desk job, socially distanced from colleagues.

BungleandGeorge · 28/11/2020 19:34

I certainly hope it’s not work with vulnerable people either! If it’s a medical exemption and they can’t find alternative work I would have thought ssp could be claimed. I can see why they’d want robust evidence though

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